​The Seattle Seahawks aim to defend their Super Bowl title, and many observers see them as a legitimate threat to claim the Lombardi Trophy again in the 2026 NFL season. Yet a notable concern lingers: the running game. This offseason, Seattle bid farewell to Kenneth Walker III, who departed in free agency to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. On top of that, the Seahawks are likely to begin the year without Zach Charbonnet, who is recovering from a torn ACL. The rookie Jadarian Price was drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but asking a newcomer to shoulder the load early could be a tall order. Consequently, could Seattle be looking to the trade market for a quicker fix?
Wynston Wilcox of FanSided floated a trade plan in a July 8 piece designed to give the Seahawks a short-term boost at running back. The proposal would send Seattle’s 2027 sixth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for veteran James Conner. The idea raises an immediate question: would the Cardinals, within the formidable confines of the NFC West, be willing to swap a productive back? Wilcox believes Arizona could consider moving Conner to a rival in the division, even if it seems unconventional to ship a key contributor within the same conference.
In Wilcox’s view, the Cardinals have little incentive to hold onto Conner with Jeremiyah Love looming as a potential contributor in the backfield. Conner carries a favorable $4.3 million cap hit, which could make him an appealing option for a team seeking immediate help without a prohibitive financial burden. The bigger hurdle, of course, is whether the Cardinals would bite on a trade given Conner’s recent health status. He suffered a severe right-foot injury early in the 2025 season that confined him to three games and ended his campaign prematurely.
Despite the injury, Wilcox argues that the move could be worth contemplating for Seattle, especially since Arizona is in a rebuilding phase. The thinking is that a veteran back who can contribute immediately would both stabilize the position and reduce the pressure on the Seahawks’ young draft pick, Price, who is expected to contribute down the line. The trade would be low-risk for Seattle if it costs only a Day 3 selection, allowing the team to preserve their more valuable assets while addressing an immediate need.
An additional factor in the discussion is Charbonnet’s timeline. Wilcox notes that Seattle is waiting to determine when Charbonnet will be ready to contribute. If he isn’t ready for Week 1, the Seahawks could benefit from adding a veteran presence who can contribute early in the season and gradually ease Price into a larger role once Charbonnet returns. In that sense, Conner’s experience and workload could provide the team with depth and stability during a critical stretch, letting Price acclimate at a manageable pace.
Another consideration is how well Conner would fit Seattle’s system. He has delivered substantial production in five NFL seasons with the Cardinals, compiling 861 carries for 3,763 rushing yards and 46 rushing touchdowns across 60 games, according to StatMuse. Those numbers illustrate a proven, durable back who could contribute immediately, especially in a committee approach that would spare Charbonnet from shouldering an entire workload from day one. Still, signing a veteran who has recently endured a significant injury carries risk. The question for Seattle would be whether Conner’s health status, recovery trajectory, and age align with the organization’s long-term plans and the immediate needs of a championship window.
For Seattle, the appeal of pursuing Conner lies not only in adding a capable runner who can contribute when Charbonnet isn’t ready but also in providing a safety valve to relieve pressure on Price. It would be a tactical move to ensure that the running game remains a credible threat even as the franchise navigates the early stages of Price’s development and Charbonnet’s return. If the cost is a modest Day 3 pick, the risk-reward balance could tilt in favor of a short-term upgrade that helps the offense stay balanced and unpredictable.
Nevertheless, even with such a trade in mind, Seattle would have to weigh several factors. Would the Cardinals genuinely part with Conner, given their own rebuilding timeline and the possibility that Conner could still contribute meaningfully in 2026? How would the presence of Conner affect the developing dynamic between Charbonnet and Price, especially if Charbonnet returns at or near Week 1? And, crucially, would adding Conner align with Seattle’s broader strategy for its backfield going forward, or would it merely be a stopgap before the team pivots to a longer-term plan?
In any case, the Seahawks face an essential decision as they approach the 2026 season: how to best stabilize their rushing attack while maintaining flexibility for the future. If Charbonnet returns on a phased timeline and Price requires more seasoning, a veteran presence could make a meaningful difference in establishing a reliable run game. While a trade for James Conner from the Cardinals presents an intriguing option, Seattle would need to conduct a careful cost-benefit analysis, considering health, fit, and divisional dynamics. The path to preserving a balanced offense—and continuing to contend for the league’s top prize—may hinge on whether Seattle identifies a low-risk, high-reward move that can deliver immediate help without compromising their longer-term strategy.